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Leslie’s Celebrates 60 Years of Serving Pool Owners & Professionals Nationwide

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Leslie's 60th Anniversary - Leslie's Celebrates 60 Years of Serving Pool Owners & Professionals Nationwide

PHOENIX, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Leslie’s, Inc. (NASDAQ: LESL), the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry, is turning 60. In addition to celebrating six decades of success delivering expert pool and spa care advice to consumers, the company also announced the opening of its 1,000th store, surpassing its 50-million water test milestone, and shares a useful list of pool facts.

In celebration of its 60th anniversary, Leslie’s shares an infographic highlighting noteworthy pool facts.

Leslie’s was founded in 1963 by Phil Leslie Jr. in a single location in Los Angeles. The retailer has grown to a 1,000-store chain across 37 states, providing pool owners and professionals with everything they need to keep pools and spas clean, safe, and beautiful. The company opened its 1,000th store last week in North Port, Florida.

Leslie’s has a well-earned reputation for superior customer service and high-quality products, but its most valuable offering is expert pool and spa care advice from knowledgeable in-store team members and professional equipment installation and repair from more than 200 certified service technicians.

Helping pool owners achieve a clean, safe, and beautiful pool is Leslie’s top priority, and its proprietary AccuBlue® in-store water test with customized treatment plan is key to the retailer’s success. Leslie’s AccuBlue water test is a complimentary in-store service that takes just 60 seconds to deliver a 10-point water test, a pool health score, and a corresponding treatment plan. The AccuBlue technology is a product of Leslie’s 60 years of water test experience and the accumulated data from more than 50 million tests. The AccuBlue water test and treatment plan is the most comprehensive water testing solution in the industry – and it’s provided for free at all Leslie’s stores.

In addition to free water tests, Leslie’s also offers:

  • Free in-store inspection and repair of pool equipment, such as pool cleaners. Pool owners simply bring in the non-working or malfunctioning item to a Leslie’s store, and a certified on-staff expert will assess and fix it. That’s free labor; shoppers only pay for the cost of parts and materials.
  • Free Pool Perks Program – members receive 5% in rewards on all purchases and services, free shipping on lesliespool.com orders, extended warranties on select equipment, and exclusive offers and promotions.
  • Free expert advice from 3,500-plus knowledgeable associates, as well as helpful online resources including more than 1,500 how-to articles and YouTube videos covering everything you need to know to care for your pool.

Noteworthy Pool Facts
In celebration of its 60 years of providing expert advice, Leslie’s shared the following list of interesting facts about pool care:

  • Water chemistry is different across various regions of the U.S. and water sources from local municipalities or wells can deliver hard water, soft water, higher levels of metals, nitrates, and increased calcium, among other nuances. Local Leslie’s in-store pool experts have regional know-how to help address localized issues.
  • Every pool should cycle its entire volume of water through the filtration system at least once a day to remove debris, dirt, and germs. It can take as many as eight or more hours per day to fully cycle through, but this doesn’t have to happen in one continuous cycling process.
  • Pool care can be eco-friendly and there are many modern solutions to save energy, water, and the use of pool chemicals.
  • Solar covers are a simple way to reduce pool water evaporation by up to 95% — saving water and money! This easy solution helps mitigate the loss of pool water, which can evaporate at one-quarter inch per day in the summertime heat, more depending on the region.
  • Variable speed pumps use far less energy and are a cost-effective alternative to single-speed pumps, which are among the highest energy-consuming appliances for a home – second only to an air conditioning system. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, upgrading from a single speed pump to a variable speed pump can reduce energy use by up to 90%.
  • A well-maintained pool and pool water is not only safe, clean, and beautiful, it can use less water than an irrigated common-sized lawn.
  • Automatic pool cleaners make cleaning a pool a breeze. Energy-efficient robotic pool cleaners are totally self-contained units that have their own built-in pump and filter to clean the pool quickly and efficiently.
  • Pets – especially dogs – also enjoy pools. It’s important to test your water after your pets indulge in pool time.
  • Leslie’s is conveniently located nationwide. There is a Leslie’s pool store within 20 minutes of 80% of the pools in the continental U.S.

About Leslie’s
Founded in 1963, Leslie’s is the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry. The Company serves the aftermarket needs of residential and professional consumers with an extensive and largely exclusive assortment of essential pool and spa care products. The Company operates an integrated ecosystem of 1,000 physical locations and a robust digital platform, enabling consumers to engage with Leslie’s whenever, wherever, and however they prefer to shop. Its dedicated team of associates, pool and spa care experts, and experienced service technicians are passionate about empowering Leslie’s consumers with the knowledge, products, and solutions necessary to confidently maintain and enjoy their pools and spas.

For more information about Leslie’s, visit lesliespool.com or follow and engage with us: @lesliespoolcare on Instagram, Leslie’s on Facebook, and @lesliespoolcare on Twitter.

Media: Mardi Larson, Amendola for Leslie’s, [email protected]  

4.9/5 - (19 votes)

Marianne Trusty is a Press Correspondent for the pool & spa industry. A published author and social media influencer reaching over 20 million people around the world each day. Contact Marianne about publishing op-editorials, breaking pool news and press releases at [email protected].

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Recent Leslie’s/Harris Poll Study Shows Nearly Three-Quarters of Americans Mistakenly Assume Clear Pool Water Is Clean, Swim-Safe Water

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Leslie’s AccuBlue Home® Delivers First 10-Point At-Home Pool and Spa Water Testing Solution to Ensure a Safe 2024 Swim Season

PHOENIX, March 26, 2024 – Clear-looking pool water is mistakenly assumed to be safe for swimming, according to a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by Leslie’s, the leading and most trusted consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry.

According to the poll, 71% of those surveyed believe that clear water is clean and safe for swimming. However, even clear water can contain contaminants that pose a danger to swimmers, and pool owners shouldn’t assume a pool is safe just because the water is clear.

A recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Leslie's found 71% of Americans mistakenly assume that clear pool water is clean and safe for swimming. Water testing is crucial to ensure healthy pool water, and Leslie's makes it easy with its new AccuBlue Home water testing program.
A recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Leslie’s found 71% of Americans mistakenly assume that clear pool water is clean and safe for swimming. Water testing is crucial to ensure healthy pool water, and Leslie’s makes it easy with its new AccuBlue Home water testing program.

The news arrives as Leslie’s launches its water safety education campaign for the 2024 swim season. Leslie’s is spreading awareness of the three primary tenets of pool safety: maintaining healthy and safe water, securing the pool area, and participating in swimming lessons and water safety education.

“As we head into the 2024 swim season, our aim is to help educate pool owners on the tenets of pool safety. Among those tenets is maintaining healthy water, and we make it easy for pool owners to test and treat their water, creating a safe environment for all,” said Clay Spann, SVP of Merchandising at Leslie’s.

“We aren’t surprised by these survey results, as there are many misconceptions related to pool water chemistry,” Spann said. “The only way to really know if pool water is clean, healthy, and safe for swimming is to check if the water is properly balanced and sanitized. To be certain of this, owners must regularly test the pool water’s chemistry makeup and precisely measure 10 different components, including pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, metals, phosphates, sanitizer levels, and more.”

The Leslie’s/Harris Poll survey also revealed that 71% of Americans who are responsible for maintaining a pool say keeping water safe is complicated, a misperception Leslie’s aims to correct with its AccuBlue® and AccuBlue Home® testing and treatment solutions.

Leslie’s makes water testing simple with its industry-leading AccuBlue technology — the only pool and spa water test that covers all 10 water chemistry components. In just 60 seconds, this free, in-store water test delivers a hardcopy printout with a water quality score and step-by-step customized water treatment plan to help keep pool water balanced. Pool and spa owners have relied upon this professional-grade testing over the past six decades, with more than 50 million tests conducted by Leslie’s store teams.

The same survey revealed that 81% of Americans who maintain their own pools wish there was a home technology solution for comprehensive 10-point pool water testing.

Last May, Leslie’s made water testing even easier and more convenient when the company launched its AccuBlue Home® membership program, which offers the same leading in-store testing technology, engineered into a compact at-home device. The AccuBlue Home testing device connects to the Leslie’s app to deliver a water quality score and customized water treatment plan to the user’s mobile phone or tablet.

Since its launch, AccuBlue Home has been embraced by pool owners, who value its convenience and accuracy. The membership program has earned a nearly five-star rating in member reviews with comments echoing exactly what it is designed to do: “takes all the guesswork out of testing your pool water” and “this little machine does everything the one in the store does.”

AccuBlue Home: How It Works
The technology is sophisticated, but the process is simple.

Users simply insert a pool water sample into the water test disk and place it into the AccuBlue Home testing device. They then open Leslie’s app on their mobile device to start the test, and AccuBlue Home does the rest. Light wavelengths pass through the water sample to precisely measure the water’s chemistry makeup, and the app delivers the water test quality score and a step-by-step customized treatment plan in just 60 seconds. The app enables pool and spa owners to order home delivery of chemicals needed to execute the water treatment plan.

An AccuBlue Home membership costs $50 a month, which includes the home testing device for free, as well as $50 in Leslie’s credits each month for purchases online, in app, or in stores. AccuBlue Home members can use their monthly credit to purchase any products from Leslie’s, including sanitizers and balancing chemicals, as well as floats, games, and other accessories to make the most out of pool days.

Marianne Trusty, president of Pool Magazine, said, “We’ve long recognized the importance of comprehensive 10-point testing for healthy and safe water and to maintain the longevity of pool equipment. Leslie’s has always been a leader, and it’s remarkable that they have driven their in-store technology into such a sleek device and an easy-to-use approach for pool and hot tub water testing.”

Virtual Pool Water Assistant
The AccuBlue Home device, measuring just 4.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall, is small, stylish, and self-contained, resembling a virtual assistant device — in this case, a virtual pool water assistant. It incorporates photometric testing technology with optical sensors, as well as a centrifuge, replaceable test disks, and more.

Click here to learn more about AccuBlue Home, the first at-home pool and spa water testing solution that covers 10 crucial water chemistry components with a membership program that pays for itself. 

About Leslie’s 
Founded in 1963, Leslie’s is the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry. The Company serves the aftermarket needs of residential and professional consumers with an extensive and largely exclusive assortment of essential pool and spa care products. The Company operates an integrated ecosystem of more than 1,000 physical locations and a robust digital platform, enabling consumers to engage with Leslie’s whenever, wherever, and however they prefer to shop. Its dedicated team of associates, pool and spa care experts, and experienced service technicians are passionate about empowering Leslie’s consumers with the knowledge, products, and solutions necessary to confidently maintain and enjoy their pools and spas.

For more information about Leslie’s, visit lesliespool.com or follow and engage with us: @lesliespoolcare on Instagram, Leslie’s on Facebook, and @lesliespoolcare on Twitter.

Survey Method:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Leslie’s from March 5-7, 2024, among 2,087 adults ages 18 and older, among whom 314 are maintaining a pool. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

Media: Mardi Larson, Amendola for Leslie’s, [email protected], 612.384.4383

SOURCE Leslie’s, Inc.

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Hotel Pool Had Numerous Violations in Case Where 8-Year-Old Was Pulled Into Pipe

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Double Tree Hotel Pool Had Numerous Violations in Case Where 8-Year-Old Was Pulled Into Pipe

In the wake of a heartbreaking incident at a hotel pool in northwest Houston, authorities are diligently investigating the circumstances surrounding the drowning of an 8-year-old girl. The incident occurred over the weekend and has sent shockwaves through the community.

Missing Girl Drowned in Hotel Pool According To Investigators

The young girl, identified by her family as Aliyah Lynette Jaico, was reported missing on Saturday evening around 6 p.m. The last sighting of her was near the lazy river-style pool at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow located at 12801 Northwest Fwy. Despite frantic efforts by her family to locate her, including thorough searches of the pool area, Aliyah remained unaccounted for.

Tim Miller, the founder of Texas EquuSearch, revealed that security footage showed Aliyah entering the water but never resurfacing. This discovery prompted a comprehensive investigation into the pool’s infrastructure. Utilizing cameras affixed to long poles, authorities drained the pool to inspect its piping system.

What they uncovered was harrowing: Aliyah had been pulled approximately 20 feet into a pipe with a diameter of about 16 inches. Despite exhaustive efforts by the Houston Fire Department and emergency responders, it took nearly 13 hours to access the pipe and retrieve Aliyah’s lifeless body.

Further scrutiny into the hotel’s facilities revealed concerning findings. Reports from the Houston Health Department’s inspection conducted on Monday outlined multiple violations.

“Main drain document was provided and still valid. However small pool has 32-inch channel drains on the walls, without a valid document stating their function, date of installation and date of expiration. A full inspection was conducted, multiple violations were observed. Video footage is available, however manager stated that the footage is being reviewed by legal, and we would have to wait to receive a copy,” part of Monday’s report read.

Hotel Pool Had Numerous Violations

March 2024 Report

03-25-2024 Aquatic Facility Inspection Report by info on Scribd

June 2023 Report

06-06-2023 Aquatic Facility Inspection Report by info on Scribd

March 2023 Report

03-09-2023 Aquatic Facility Inspection Report by info on Scribd

September 2022 Report

09-15-2022 Aquatic Facility Inspection Report by info on Scribd

September 2021 Report

09-29-2021 Aquatic Facility Inspection Report by info on Scribd

As investigations continue, questions linger regarding the adequacy of safety measures at the hotel’s pool and the potential oversight in maintenance protocols. The loss of the young victim has cast a somber shadow over the community, prompting calls for enhanced vigilance and stringent adherence to safety standards to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Featured Photo Credit: Google Maps

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FWP Faces Class Action Lawsuit Stemming From 2023 Cyberattack

Florida Water Products is facing a class action lawsuit stemming from a 2023 cyberattack.

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Florida Water Products Class Action Lawsuit

Florida Water Products, LLC (FWP) finds itself at the center of a proposed class action lawsuit stemming from a cyberattack in May 2023, which may have compromised the personal data of thousands of people.

Florida Water Products Lawsuit Alleges Inadequate Security Measures Left Data Exposed

The lawsuit asserts that inadequate cybersecurity measures by the pool and spa equipment distributor were directly responsible for the breach. Compromised information may include the names and Social Security numbers of both current and former FWP employees, as well as those affiliated with the company.

Florida Water Products is facing a class action lawsuit stemming from a 2023 cyberattack.

According to FWP’s data breach notice letter, the incident targeted a repository of “legacy data” within its network, referring to information stored in outdated systems or formats. Subsequent investigation suggests that an unauthorized third party may have accessed FWP’s systems and obtained certain data from legacy databases.

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Although specifics regarding the duration and precise dates of the cybercriminals’ access remain unclear, the breach is believed to have occurred between May 22 and May 28, 2023.

Plaintiff Alleges Inadequate Cybersecurity Left Data Vulnerable

The lawsuit contends that FWP’s failure to enforce adequate cybersecurity measures and provide sufficient training to its employees left its data vulnerable to exploitation by cybercriminals. The complaint argues that Florida Water Products notification to affected individuals was delayed and insufficient. The plaintiff, Stephen Basson, an employee of FWP affiliate Aquarius Supply, claims to have received notice from the defendant only in early December 2023, nearly seven months after the breach allegedly took place.

FWP’s notification letter, as per the filing, obscured crucial details about the breach, such as the number of affected individuals, the methods used by hackers to access the system, and the reasons for the delay in notifying victims.

The lawsuit further alleges that FWP’s tardy and inadequate notice left victims exposed to potential identity theft without proper guidance on monitoring their financial accounts or credit reports to mitigate unauthorized use of their personal information.

A request for comment by FWP about the current litigation was not received in time for publication of this article.

Not The First Or The Last

While the validity of the class action lawsuit against Florida Water Products remains uncertain and subject to legal proceedings, one thing however is certain. The pool industry is clearly not immune to cyber attack threats, as demonstrated by the increase in breaches since 2021. Most recently, Brenntag, a major chemical distributor, fell victim to a ransomware attack by the DarkSide hacker group, resulting in a staggering $4.4 million payout.

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